In recognition of the fourth of July celebration this week, we publish a series of quotes from the history of the United States. While the US never stated Christianity as an official religion, the founders were most definitely steeped in Christianity and wove its principles into the fabric of the country. This week’s quotations will try to support that. This weeks’ quotes come from Great Quotations, electronic edition, by William Federer.

The First Charter of Massachusetts, March 4, 1629, stated:

And forasmuch as the good and prosperous success of the plantation of the said parts of New England and for the directing, ruling, and disposeing of all other Matters and Things, whereby our said People … maie be soe religiously, peaceablie, and civilly governed, as their good life and orderlie Conversation, maie wynn and incite the Natives of the Country to the Knowledg and Obedience of the onlie true God and Savior of Mankinde, and the Christian Fayth, which, in our Royall Intention, and the Adventurers free profession, is the principall Ende of this Plantation.

This states that the people of Massachusetts wanted to be religiously governed, with a purpose of giving the good news of Christianity to the native Americans. They held Christianity to the only true god and savior. The original principal end of Massachusetts was the Christian faith.